Absorbent pad for a broom or mop

ABSTRACT

An absorbent pad for attachment to a handle assembly of a floor brush, broom or mop comprises a floor-engaging surface of an absorbent material, there being provided channels extending from the leading edge of the pad toward the rear edge but terminating in the bulk of the absorbent pad. The implement is useful for collecting liquid spills while avoiding a snowplow effect on the liquid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and in particular, theinvention relates to absorbent pads for use with floor brooms, brushesor mops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of absorbent pads with brooms, brushes or mops is known. Forexample, an absorbent pad may be attached to an elongated handleassembly to form a unitary cleaning tool. This cleaning tool can be usedon the surface of a floor to absorb unwanted liquids and to scrub thefloor. After use, the absorbent pad may be detached from the handleassembly for washing and/or replacement.

Conventional absorbent pads are generally rectangular in shape, with thesurface that contacts the floor being made from a water-absorbentmaterial, such as microfiber or yarn. However, one disadvantage ofconventional absorbent pads is that when the absorbent pad is pushedtowards liquid on a floor, the leading, or front, edge of the absorbentpad will typically come into contact with the liquid first. Althoughsome of the liquid may be absorbed by portions of the absorbent padproximate to its leading edge, much of the liquid may begin toaccumulate against the leading edge and be simply be pushed along thefloor by the absorbent pad.

There is therefore a need for an absorbent pad that allows for betterand more efficient liquid absorption. This and other objects will bebetter understood by reference to this application as a whole. Not allof the objects are necessarily met by all embodiments of the inventiondescribed below or by the invention as defined by each of the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An absorbent pad for attachment to a handle assembly of a floor brush,broom or mop comprises a floor-engaging surface of an absorbentmaterial, there being provided channels extending from the leading edgeof the pad toward the rear edge but terminating in the bulk of theabsorbent pad. The implement is useful for collecting liquid spillswhile avoiding a snowplow effect on the liquid.

In one embodiment of the invention, an absorbent pad for attachment to ahandle assembly of a floor brush, broom or mop comprises opposing firstand second surfaces. The first and second surfaces are defined, at leastin part, by a front edge and a rear edge. The front edge comes intocontact with liquid during operation of the implement. The first surfacecomprises one or more channels, with the channels extending from thefront edge towards the rear edge and terminating before the rear edge.The second surface is adapted to detachably attach to the handleassembly.

In another embodiment, the first surface comprises a fibrous absorbentmaterial and the one or more channels are formed by compressing one ormore portions of the fibrous material.

In still yet another embodiment, the one or more channels are defined bystitching of said absorbent material.

In a further embodiment, at least one of the one or more channels extendsubstantially perpendicularly to the front edge.

In still a further embodiment, at least one of the one or more channelsextend approximately halfway between the front edge and the rear edge.

In still yet a further embodiment, a width of at least one of the one ormore channels is the greatest at the front edge.

In a further embodiment, the at least one of the one or more channels istapered.

In another embodiment, a floor brush, broom or mop comprises anelongated handle, a handle assembly connected to the handle, and anabsorbent pad removably attached the handle assembly. The absorbent padcomprises opposing first and second surfaces. The first and secondsurfaces are defined, at least in part, by a front edge and a rear edge.The front edge comes into contact with liquid during operation of theimplement. The first surface comprises one or more channels, with thechannels extending from the front edge towards the rear edge andterminating before the rear edge. The second surface is adapted todetachably attach to the handle assembly.

In still another embodiment, the second surface is attached to thehandle assembly using hook-and-loop fasteners.

The foregoing was intended as a summary only and of only some of theaspects of the invention. It was not intended to define the limits orrequirements of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will beappreciated by reference to the detailed description of the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by referenceto the drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the absorbent pad in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows the first surface of the absorbent pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the absorbent pad of FIG. 1 viewed along the rear edge;

FIG. 4 shows the second surface of the absorbent pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows the absorbent pad of FIG. 1 viewed along the front edge;

FIG. 6 shows the absorbent pad of FIG. 1 viewed along one side;

FIG. 7 shows the absorbent pad of FIG. 1 viewed along another side;

FIG. 8 is another view of the first surface of the absorbent pad of FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of the absorbent pad taken along 9-9 ofFIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 shows the absorbent pad of FIG. 1 in use as part of a mop viewedfrom below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, an absorbent pad 100 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention comprises opposing first and second surfaces102, 104. The absorbent pad 100 is generally defined by a longitudinalfront edge 106, a longitudinal rear edge 108, and two lateral side edges110. Preferably, the absorbent pad 100 has a generally rectangularshape, with the front edge 106 and the rear edge 108 being substantiallyparallel to each other and the side edges 110 being substantiallyparallel to each other.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, lateral ends 116 of theabsorbent pad 100 are folded over the side edges 110 (as best shown inFIG. 1), resulting in the first surface 102 extending for a distanceover and beyond the side edges 110. This also results in the secondsurface 104 being folded onto itself for a similar distance from theside edges 110. However, it is understood that this folding over of thefirst surface 102 is not necessary. For example, the first and secondsurfaces 102, 104 may simply terminate at the side edges 110.

The second surface 104 is adapted to be removably attached to a handleassembly 200 to form a brush, broom or mop 300. This description willrefer to the implement simply as a mop for convenience. The handleassembly 200 preferably comprises an elongated handle 202 and anattachment member 204. The attachment member 204 is connected to theelongated handle 202 and is also adapted to be attached to the secondsurface 104. The attachment of the second surface 104 to the attachmentmember 204 may be effected in a number of ways. For example, at least aportion of the second surface 104 may be adapted to engage with theattachment member 204 using hook-and-loop fasteners (i.e. Velcro™) oradhesive materials. Preferably, the attachment of the second surface 104with the attachment member 204 is sufficiently strong to cause theabsorbent pad 100 to remain attached to the attachment member 204 whilethe mop 300 is in use, but not too strong as to prevent the removal ofthe absorbent pad 100 from the attachment member 204 for replacement orcleaning.

The first surface 102 is intended to be in direct engaging contact witha floor 400 while the mop 300 is in use. It is preferably substantiallymade from an absorbent fibrous material, such as microfiber, yarn, orsome other suitable material.

In addition, the front or leading edge 106 is intended to first comeinto contact with liquid 402 on the floor 400 when the absorbent pad 100is pushed along the floor 400 in direction A, as shown in FIG. 1,bearing in mind that surface 102 is the surface that is in directcontact with the floor.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, one or more channels 112 are formed on thefirst surface 102 and extend from the front edge 106 (or proximate tothe front edge 106) towards the rear edge 108. The channels 112preferably do not extend entirely to the rear edge 108 but insteadterminate before and short of the rear or trailing edge 108. Forexample, the channels 112 preferably terminate approximately halfwaybetween the front edge 106 and the rear edge 108. It is also possiblethat the channels terminate at a distance that may be greater than orless then halfway between the front edge 106 and the rear edge 108.

All of the channels 112 may extend substantially perpendicularly fromthe front edge 106. In other words, a longitudinal axis of the channels112 may extend substantially perpendicularly from the front edge 106.However, in other embodiments, the channels 112 may be oriented indifferent directions with respect to the front edge 106.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the width of the channels 112decreases as the channels 112 move away from the front edge 106, such asto create a tapered effect for the channels 112. However, it isunderstood that the width of the channels 112 may also be relativelyconstant. It is also possible that the width of the channels 112 may notdecrease at a constant rate as the channels 112 move away from the frontedge 106. For example, the width of the channels 112 may decrease atvarious intervals, such as to create a staggered effect.

The channels 112 may be formed by compressing portions of the firstsurface 102. For example, where the first surface 102 comprises fibrousmaterial, the channels 112 may be formed by compressing and stitchingdown portions of the fibrous material to create the shape andorientation of the channels 112, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Thecompression of portions of the first surface 102 form channel edges 114,which define the periphery of the channels 112.

Referring to FIG. 10, the operation of the absorbent pad 100 will now bedescribed. The absorbent pad 100 is attached to the attachment member204 using the second surface 104. Once the absorbent pad 100 has beenattached to the attachment member 204 (to form the mop 300), the mop 300can be used to absorb the liquid 402 on the floor 400. To do so, the mop300 may be pushed in the direction of the liquid 402. When the liquid402 comes into contact with the front edge 106, some of the liquid 402may be absorbed by portions of the first surface 102 proximate to thefront edge 106. The remainder of the liquid 402 will move into one ormore of the channels 112 formed on the front edge 106.

As the mop 300 is continued to be pushed along the floor 400, theremainder of the liquid 402 continues to move along the one or morechannels 112. Along the way, some of the liquid 402 may be absorbed byportions of the first surface 102 proximate to the channel edges 114 asthe liquid 402 moves along the channels 112. Any of the liquid 402 thatreaches the ends of the channels 112 will be absorbed by portions of thefirst surface 102 proximate to the ends of the channels 112.

In this manner, instead of the liquid 402 being concentrated on thefront edge 106, at least a portion of the liquid 402 may be moved to theinterior of the first surface 102 through the channels 112. Without thepresence of the channels 112, the portions of the first surface 102proximate to the front edge 106 may become saturated with the liquid402. When this occurs, any remainder of the liquid 402 would not beabsorbed by the first surface 102 but would instead be pushed along thefloor by the (saturated) front edge 106.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preferredembodiment has been described in some detail but that certainmodifications may be practiced without departing from the principles ofthe invention.

1. An absorbent pad for attachment to a handle assembly of a floorbrush, broom or mop, the absorbent pad comprising: opposing first andsecond surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces are defined, atleast in part, by a front edge and a rear edge, wherein the front edgecomes into contact with liquid during operation of the brush, broom ormop; wherein the first surface comprises one or more channels, thechannels extending from the front edge towards the rear edge andterminating before said rear edge; and wherein the second surface isadapted to detachably attach to the handle assembly.
 2. The absorbentpad of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises a fibrous absorbentmaterial and the one or more channels are formed by compressing portionsof the fibrous material.
 3. The absorbent pad of claim 2, wherein theone or more channels are formed by stitching said fibrous absorbentmaterial.
 4. The absorbent pad of claim 1, wherein at least one of theone or more channels extend substantially perpendicularly to the frontedge.
 5. The absorbent pad of claim 1, wherein at least one of the oneor more channels extend approximately halfway between the front edge andthe rear edge.
 6. The absorbent pad of claim 1, wherein a width of atleast one of the one or more channels is the greatest at the front edge.7. The absorbent pad of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the one ormore channels is tapered.
 8. A floor brush, broom or mop comprising: anelongated handle; a handle assembly connected to the handle; and anabsorbent pad removably attached the handle assembly, the absorbent padcomprising: opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the first andsecond surfaces are defined, at least in part, by a front edge and arear edge, wherein the front edge comes into contact with liquid duringoperation of the brush, broom or mop; and, wherein the first surfacecomprises one or more channels, the channels extending from the frontedge towards the rear edge and terminating before said rear edge; andwherein the second surface is detachably attachable to the handleassembly.
 9. The brush, broom or mop of claim 8, wherein the secondsurface is attached to the handle assembly using hook-and-loopfasteners.